Man killed in Route 54 shoulder crash identified

SAN DIEGO – The 44-year-old man struck and killed while standing next to his truck on a highway shoulder was identified Thursday as Mark Schoell from Escondido, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office said.

Schoell had pulled over on westbound state Route 54 just west of Woodman Street at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday when a Plymouth Voyager minivan drifted to the right shoulder and hit both Schoell and his truck, the California Highway Patrol said.

The impact knocked Schoell into westbound traffic lanes, mortally wounding him, the Medical Examiner's office said. The 65-year-old woman driving the minivan was taken to a hospital for treatment of pain and cuts.

Three westbound lanes of the freeway were closed for two hours as officials investigated.